Incidence of first acute myocardial infarction over time specific for age, sex, and country of birth.

OBJECTIVES

To study the age- and sex-specific incidence rates of first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among first-generation ethnic minority groups (henceforth, migrant groups) and the Dutch majority population in the Netherlands during two time periods (2000-2004 and 2005-2010).

METHODS

Through linkage of Dutch nationwide registers, first AMI events in the Dutch majority population and the major migrant groups living in the Netherlands were identified from 2000-2004 and 2005-2010. Absolute incidence rates were calculated within each age-sex-period-country of birth group.

RESULTS

Regardless of ethnic background, AMI incidence rates were higher in men than in women and increased with age. Incidence significantly declined over time among the Dutch majority population (men: -26.8%, women: -26.7%), and among most migrant groups under study. It was only in Moroccan migrants that AMI incidence significantly increased over time (men: 25.2%, women: 41.7%). Trends differed between age categories, but did not show a consistent pattern. The higher AMI incidence in Surinamese men and women and Turkish and Indonesian men compared with the Dutch majority population persisted over time, but decreased with age and became absent after 70 years of age. Moroccans had a significantly lower incidence compared with the Dutch majority population during 2000-2004, which disappeared during 2005-2010.

CONCLUSION

Primary preventive strategies should focus on Surinamese men and women and Turkish and Indonesian men below 70 years of age. Future research is necessary to unravel the factors that provoke the increasing AMI incidence over time among Moroccans.